Fulham midfielder Bullard caps comeback from injury with place in squad for World Cup qualifiers

Fulham's Jimmy Bullard said he was 'absolutely over the moon' after being handed a shock England World Cup call-up as coach Fabio Capello looks to begin the road to South Africa by beating Andorra and Croatia.

The 29-year-old has barely earned a mention as a potential candidate for Capello's squad, even after the loss of Steven Gerrard, who joined Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick on the injured list.

But Bullard has found favour after an excellent start to the season, following his influential role in keeping the Cottagers up last term.

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'Over the moon': Jimmy Bullard is delighted to be part of the England squad.

Capello is presumably banking on Bullard's age helping him overcome any nerves at his first call-up and the Londoner's chirpy character should help in the England dressing room.

It is also a reward for Bullard's decision not to chase a place in the Germany squad by taking advantage of his grandmother's birthplace.

Having been out of the game for 15 months following cruciate ligament surgery in September 2006, it is a testament to Bullard's strength of character that he not only returned to action but produced performances good enough to attract Capello's attention.

However, anyone who has seen Bullard rise from obscurity at Gravesend & Northfleet would have no doubt about his determination and dedication, even if his major claim to fame in his career so far is the role he played in Wigan's rise from League One to the Premier League.

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After being told he had been selected by Capello, Bullard said: 'I'm absolutely over the moon. I'm so excited but I just want to go and meet up with the guys now and do whatever the manager asks of me.'

Bullard's joy will contrast sharply with the dejection of Michael Owen, who has been left out despite making his first full appearance of the season for Newcastle at Arsenal.

With Capello in attendance at the Emirates Stadium, it was felt Owen would be part of the Italian's 23- man squad, particularly as he has scored matchwinners against Bolton and Coventry in the past week.

Instead, Capello has stuck with the four strikers from the squad that drew against the Czech Republic at Wembley on 20 August.

Whether Capello can afford to be without Owen, one of only four players to score 40 goals for England, is a debatable point, if not for the meeting with Andorra in Barcelona on Saturday, then certainly for the crunch clash against Croatia in Zagreb four days later.

Once again, Peter Crouch has been left out despite scoring for Portsmouth at Everton, although the performance of another Pompey man, Jermain Defoe, suggests he will be the man asked to partner Wayne Rooney at the Olympic Stadium at Montjuic next weekend.

Capello will be hoping to avoid the kind of abuse Steve McClaren endured at the same venue 18 months ago, when Gerrard's double and a late David Nugent effort staved off total humiliation against the parttimers after a goalless first-half.

With Manchester City's Joe Hart returning to England Under-21 duty and Jonathan Woodgate injured, West Ham's Robert Green and Everton's Joleon Lescott have been recalled, while Glen Johnson will provide cover for Wes Brown at right-back.